During the Third World War the era of big gunned and armored ships was done with. Japan which had stayed neutral during the conflict between the USSR and Allies, watched the large naval battles in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Engagements were fought over the horizon with guided missiles and strikes by carrier aircraft carrying more missiles. IJN intelligence staffs studied the carrier operations of the Americans and their European Allies, plus the Soviet efforts to destroy carriers. A massive report was prepared for the commanders of the Combined Fleet and then the head of the IJN. Recommendations were made on improvements and new weapons that would be needed by the Combined Fleet.

One of the first of these new weapons was the Naginata missile cruiser. Japan had been experimenting with missile armed ships during World War III but had not built a dedicated warship designed with that in mind. The Naginata would have the same role as the American Ticonderoga Aegis Cruisers plus an additional surface strike role. A late minute addition to the cruiser’s design was that of low observable technology. The success of American ‘stealth’ platforms in the last stages of World War III had revealed how powerful such technology could be. Although not a true stealth design the Naginata would be harder to find on surface search radar.

The first duty of the Naginata was air defense. To achieve this, the Japanese created their version of the Aegis combat system, the Kami radar and Type 20 Funryu SAM. A phased radar system it allowed for a full automatic mode to defend the Imperial Fleet’s carrier striking groups from mass air and missile attacks. Offensive fire power came from the ten Kaiten anti-ship missiles. A clone of the American Harpoon, it allowed IJN ships to attack others up to 90 miles away. In the tradition of the IJN the Naginata retained anti-ship torpedoes, the Shinya. Anti-submarine warfare was conducted with the ship’s sonar systems and two Ku-55 Helicopters. These helicopters could scout for the ship and attack submarine or surface targets with ASW torpedoes and SSMs.

By 1990 tensions in the Pacific were at an all time high. The Empire of Japan was suffering economic difficulties with the United States and Europeans. Both sides had begun to buy more of their goods from the growing economic powerhouse that was the Republic of China. After years of corruption and turmoil the ROC had finally managed to get its house in order. Now the Chinese were able to offer many of the goods and services that Japan had, for lower value. At the same time Japan’s industries and more importantly the military demanded more oil and resources. An ample supply of these items lay in Siberia. Oil and mineral fields discovered there by the Russians had helped revitalize their economy.

Prince Tatsu along with War Minster Yamata convinced Emperor Yoshiro that it was time for Japan to assume its place as the premier superpower over the Americans and Europeans. They purposed taking the riches in Siberia from the Russians and then using these resources to eventually make them the sole owners of the Pacific Ocean. The Emperor agreed and the Pacific War began on June 22, 1990. Some of the first shots of the war were fired by Naginata cruisers, cruise missiles against Russian airfields and bases in the Far East.

The Naginatas in the opening months of the Pacific War screened the Combined Fleet as its aircraft and amphibious forces assaulted Siberia and the Kutwang Army Group moved into Siberia. The Russian forces a shadow of their former selves were unable to mount effective resistance. Air and naval strikes destroyed the Russian Pacific Fleet, except for its submarines. Mostly the Naginata ships defended against the occasional air attack and conducted ASW sweeps with other IJN destroyers and frigates. The ships would see more action as the war expanded.

America and Europe had no wish to see Japan steal the Siberian resources from the Russians. As a result both began to offer covert assistance to the Russians. US naval forces conducted increased training and moved more ships into position to cover the IJN forces in the western and southern Pacific. Tokyo was upset at the covert support and American positioning. Prince Tatsu said it was time to drive the Americans from the Pacific once and for all. He and the military drafted plans to invade the Philippines (ending the one hole that existed in the Empire) and destroy American naval power. They would take the Northern Marianas Islands then engage and defeat the USN. Washington seeing its forces humbled and looking at a long bloody battle to retake the Pacific would acquiesce to the New World Order.

Japan’s decision to expand the war resulted in the largest series of naval battles the world had ever seen. Naginata cruisers led the attack on the Philippines and a Japanese surface group was responsible for the devastation inflicted upon the Australian Navy in the First Battle of the Coral Sea. Despite the success the Japanese achieved in the opening stages of the war, they were now at war with the United States and European Alliance. America had more naval warfare experience than the IJN.

Based on wargames against their own Aegis platforms, the USN knew the best way to take down phased radar platforms like the Naginata. Submarines were often best, and air attacks using HARM missiles and drones also worked. The Naginatas were not invincible and thus could not make the Japanese carrier strike groups invulnerable. Of the thirty Naginata cruisers built by Japan, twenty-five were sunk during the course of the war. They fought in every major engagement, The First Coral Sea, Philippines Campaign, The Battle of Guam, Second Coral Sea, and the Home Islands. The remaining Naginatas now serve in the Japanese Republic’s Navy.

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Alright this is the first Japanese combatant from Red Alert 3. Just so you all know my version of Red Alert 3 lacks the craziness that occurs in the game. No time travel is involved and this in fact occurs after Red Alert and RA2. The Empire of the Rising Sun is just the Empire of Japan. Since WWII was fought against the USSR in RA, the Empire never falls. Thus leading to a modern Pacific War fought in the early 1990s. (For more on this TL check out my RA3 Map in the gallery!)

The Naginata is based on the modern Japanese Self-Defense Force Kongo destroyers and modern warships. I’ve created it to be basically the Japanese counterpart to Ticonderoga CCG. Unlike my two Russian RA2 warships I drew this on from scratch! Only piece I used from Shipbucket is some antenna stuff at the top of the Naginata’s mast. You might note I did not copy the standard Aegis billboard radars, I instead to make it look different copied the latest Chinese billboard radars.

Thanks. Yeah I would have much preferred Red Alert continued along its serious tone. It was fun to weave all three games ideas into a single timeline. Plus its a great chance to do the Pacific Theater with modern weapons lol.

Yeah while RA2 was campy a lot of the units weren't too ridiculous. I would have preferred to see a realistic Japanese military rather than the walking mecha and crazy ships. Thanks again for the feedback!

Well remember that the Naginata featured here is from an alternate early 1990s. So don't have all those automation like today. Plus I based the number on modern Japanese and USN ship crews for guided missile destroyers and cruisers. 60 strikes me as a reasonable number for a future history warship say 2040s or later.

Most modern US and Japanese ships have been serving in their respective navies for around 30 years. Most Japanese ships are already bought from the US in the early 80s. But there are very modern US destroyers and cruisers of the latest generation, such as the cancelled DDX which were supposed to have a crew of 24. And unfortunately, we will only see the next generation of strike warships by the mid 2030s. There were 3 exceptional catamaran designs which the US navy was supposed to develop by 2012 in 6x6 numbers. But with their current financial difficulties, the designs have been shelved. Such a shame. I won't even mention the dilapidated Russian navy. The next age belongs to the Chinese navy. And though it is currently nothing less than a world arms expo with Russian cannons, French missiles, Spanish torpedoes etc..., it is currently developing new vessels at a very aggressive rate.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of slow ship development outside of China, which is running into the blue water naval game. For now the USN can get by on what it has. I think around the world, US included we'll get a lot of advancement by bits and pieces. There's the new carrier coming out in the next ten years. Hopefully the UK will actually get their carriers off the boards, they've introduced the Type 45 destroyers. Russia is slowly building new ships and subs. Short of China suddenly threatening the Pacific, there probably won't be another massive naval boom anytime soon.

Mine has a far more realistic look modeled on current DDGs in the JMSDF. Much like my version of the Tengu fighter which is no longer a crazy looking Zero/F-86/robot cross. It would also carry more realistic weapons, SAMs, SSMs, I did keep the long range surface torpedo weapons as a nod to the game and Japanese warships during WWII, which used Long Lance torps.

Wow. Looks great. If I'm not wrong, the ingame Naginata was based on the American Sea Slice stealth ship (it was one of two products of stealth ships originating from the Sea Shadow, the other being the Sea Fighter).

Very nice design as always. I hope this means more Japanese units in the near future; I know they will look quite different to the ones in-game. Still, I would like to see your version of the Shogun Battleship.